LOCATION
In the heart of Century City, Cape Town, 15km from the city centre. If that sounds like it could be an issue, consider this: town and its many attractions are mere minutes down the N1.
You're also out of the hurly burly of the CBD and the city's grinding traffic and skinny streets, while the winelands and the West Coast are readily accessible and feel that much closer.
STYLE
Modern, sophisticated and cool, with a distinct boutique-hotel feel to it. It's thoroughly 21st century with lots of nice little touches, such as the pop-up TV, which emerges from a cabinet at the foot of the bed, ergonomic chairs in the rooms, luxury soaps and shampoos and - my new baseline of cool anywhere I go - a proper coffee maker.I stayed in the Brian Habana suite, which from its 8th-floor perch offered the most incredible view of Table Mountain, the city, the distant smudge of mountains to the east and, peeping around the right-hand side of the building, Robben Island.SERVICE
Cool and a little reserved, which is to say professional. Nothing was too much trouble.
THE EATING
There are two restaurants - Towers Restaurant (my choice for both dinner and breakfast) and the casual, 24-hour Greatroom Deli.
The fare at both is international. The leek-and-potato soup with a stilton crumble may be one of the best things I have ever eaten. Breakfast was vast to please all the national palates on show - from China, India, Germany, the US and Denmark.
I enjoyed lingering over breakfast, immersed in a pleasant babble of languages. The food was excellent too, all freshly prepared by a kitchen brigade as you watch.ACTIVITIES
I had an excellent massage in the Life Day Spa - this alone may be reason enough to stay here - and left with what felt like a brand-new back.
If you're a shopper, Canal Walk and its boutiques are a short stroll away.
Sadly, Ratanga Junction is currently closed. Its Douglas DC-3 Dakota - one of Century City's most enduring landmarks - will hopefully soon be on its way overseas, pending a Kickstarter fundraiser.
The aircraft is the sole survivor of thousands of planes that flew paratoopers into battle at Arnhem in 1944 and the Rhine in 1945, and Dutch historians want her as the centrepiece of a new museum.
BEST TIME TO GO
There is never a bad time to visit Cape Town.FACILITIES
The spa is very popular with lots of people lolling around all blissed out. Blisteringly fast, free wifi and a lovely fireplace in the lobby add further lustre to a fine hotel.RATES
Marriott is currently offering "Pricebreaker" deals online from R2,400 - R4,100 per night, plus last-minute weekend-special rates.
CONTACT
Phone 021-525-3888 or see the website.
• Ash was a guest of Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers...